what is "politics" as used in the phrase "political engagement"? is it lobbying based on the existing balance of power (kissing up to in-power politicians to get favors, etc.) or is it does it involve efforts to change the balance of political power (as with the Occupy movement)?
On Fri, Apr 5, 2013 at 8:16 AM, Robert Naiman <[email protected]>wrote: > I think your diagnosis is faulty. I think the key problem is that the > "Left" doesn't believe in political engagement. It believes in impotent > complaining. > > > On Fri, Apr 5, 2013 at 9:37 AM, Jim Devine <[email protected]> wrote: > >> it's true. So much of the "Left" has become Democratic Party drones -- >> following the Party Line and chanting about the "lesser of two evils" -- >> that the "Left" may be an endangered species. But that doesn't mean that it >> (unlike an actual species) can't revive. the Obama/GOP austerity program >> could spark a new progressive movement of some sort that refuses to be >> co-opted. Maybe the Occupy movement? >> >> >> On Fri, Apr 5, 2013 at 7:33 AM, Robert Naiman < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> This is the moment of truth. Now we'll find out if America has a Left or >>> not. If America has a Left, chained CPI can be stopped. Otherwise, the >>> notion that America has a Left will from now on always be a bad joke. >>> >>> >>> On Fri, Apr 5, 2013 at 9:30 AM, Jim Devine <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> and some people hoped he was the new FDR? if "we're all Keynesians," >>>> he's an exception. >>>> [from >>>> http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/us/social-programs-face-cutback-in-obama-budget.html >>>> ] >>>> Obama Budget to Include Cuts to Programs in Hopes of Deal By JACKIE >>>> CALMES<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/jackie_calmes/index.html> >>>> Published: >>>> April 5, 2013 >>>> <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/us/social-programs-face-cutback-in-obama-budget.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130405&_r=0#commentsContainer> >>>> >>>> WASHINGTON — President Obama next week will take the political risk of >>>> formally proposing cuts to Social >>>> Security<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/s/social_security_us/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier>and >>>> Medicare<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/medicare/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier>in >>>> his annual budget in an effort to demonstrate his willingness to >>>> compromise with Republicans and revive prospects for a long-term >>>> deficit-reduction deal, administration officials say. >>>> >>>> In a significant shift in fiscal strategy, Mr. Obama on Wednesday will >>>> send a budget plan to Capitol Hill that departs from the usual presidential >>>> wish list that Republicans typically declare dead on arrival. Instead it >>>> will embody the final compromise offer that he made to Speaker John A. >>>> Boehner late last year, before Mr. Boehner abandoned negotiations in >>>> opposition to the president’s demand for higher taxes from wealthy >>>> individuals and some corporations. >>>> >>>> Congressional Republicans have dug in against any new tax revenues >>>> after higher taxes for the affluent were approved at the start of the year. >>>> The administration’s hope is to create cracks in Republicans’ antitax >>>> resistance, especially in the Senate, as constituents complain about the >>>> across-the-board cuts in military and domestic programs that took effect >>>> March 1. >>>> >>>> Mr. Obama’s proposed deficit reduction would replace those cuts. And if >>>> Republicans continue to resist the president, the White House believes that >>>> most Americans will blame them for the fiscal paralysis. >>>> >>>> Besides the tax increases that most Republicans continue to oppose, Mr. >>>> Obama’s >>>> budget<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/f/federal_budget_us/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier>will >>>> propose a new inflation formula that would have the effect of reducing >>>> cost-of-living payments for Social Security benefits, though with financial >>>> protections for low-income and very old beneficiaries, administration >>>> officials said. The idea, known as chained C.P.I., has infuriated some >>>> Democrats and advocacy groups to Mr. Obama’s left, and they have already >>>> mobilized in opposition. >>>> >>>> As Mr. Obama has before, his budget documents will emphasize that he >>>> would support the cost-of-living change, as well as other reductions that >>>> Republicans have called for in the popular programs for older Americans, >>>> only if Republicans agree to additional taxes on the wealthy and >>>> infrastructure investments that the president called for in last year’s >>>> offer to Mr. Boehner. >>>> >>>> Mr. Obama will propose other spending and tax credit initiatives, >>>> including aid for states to make free prekindergarten education available >>>> nationwide — a priority outlined in his State of the Union >>>> address<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/s/state_of_the_union_message_us/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier>in >>>> February. He will propose to pay for it by raising federal taxes on >>>> cigarettes and other tobacco products. >>>> >>>> “The president has made clear that he is willing to compromise and do >>>> tough things to reduce the deficits, but only in the context of a package >>>> like this one that has balance and includes revenues from the wealthiest >>>> Americans and that is designed to promote economic growth,” said a senior >>>> administration official, who, like others, declined to be identified >>>> confirming details about the coming budget. >>>> >>>> “That means,” the official added, “that the things like C.P.I. that >>>> Republican leaders have pushed hard for will only be accepted if >>>> Congressional Republicans are willing to do more on revenues.” >>>> -- >>>> Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own >>>> way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante. >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> pen-l mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Robert Naiman >>> Policy Director >>> Just Foreign Policy >>> www.justforeignpolicy.org >>> [email protected] >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> pen-l mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own >> way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> pen-l mailing list >> [email protected] >> https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l >> >> > > > -- > Robert Naiman > Policy Director > Just Foreign Policy > www.justforeignpolicy.org > [email protected] > > _______________________________________________ > pen-l mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l > > -- Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante.
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